AI features: search, artifacts, diagrams
On this page
| Where | Search: the field Search files… (Търси файлове…) in the file manager action bar. Artifacts and Markdown files: in any folder of the file manager. BORO: the BORO chat panel. |
|---|---|
| Who can | Search and reading: File manager View (Преглед); results show only files you can see. Creating and changing files through BORO: the same permissions as doing it yourself; by default each change also needs your approval. |
| Related | BORO — AI assistant, Chatting and attachments, Approvals and background tasks, Connecting Claude, ChatGPT and others (MCP) |
Searching files
The search field Search files… (Търси файлове…) in the file manager action bar has two scopes. As soon as you type, the switch Search scope (Обхват на търсенето) appears next to the field:
| Scope | What it searches |
|---|---|
| Everywhere (Навсякъде), the default | Every folder of the file area (the company files or the project files) at once: names, descriptions and, where content search is enabled, the text inside documents. Needs at least 2 characters. |
| This folder (Тази папка) | Filters the open folder's list by name as you type. |
How to find a file in any folder
- Open the file manager (company Files or project File manager).
- Type at least 2 characters in Search files… (Търси файлове…). The scope is Everywhere (Навсякъде).
- The list shows Results for "{query}" in all folders. Each result shows the folder path. A label tells you why it matched: Found in content (Намерено в съдържанието) or Found in description (Намерено в описанието); otherwise the name matched.
- Click a result to open it. Use the page links (Page {n}) for more results.
- Clear the field with the × button to return to the folder.
Search shows only files you are allowed to see and only searches their current versions. Files in the Trash and the system files of the Letterheads and BoQ documents tabs are not included. Nothing found shows Nothing found for "{query}".
Content search reads the text layer of documents and, for scanned PDFs and images, text recognized by OCR (up to 200 pages of files up to 25 MB). When content search is not available for your file area, the results show Searching names and descriptions only — document content search is not available yet. In that case, a good description on each file makes it easy to find; see Folders, uploading and navigation.
- The search field Search files… (Търси файлове…) with the query.
- The scope switch Everywhere / This folder.
- The title Results for "{query}" in all folders.
- A result with its folder path.
Working with files through BORO
BORO, the BuildColab AI assistant, works with the file manager on your behalf, with your permissions. By default, everything that changes files is first shown to you as an approval card, and nothing is changed until you approve it. A company can switch individual tools to No approval (Без одобрение) in BORO Settings → Tools; those tools then run directly. See Approvals and background tasks.
| You can ask BORO to… | Example request |
|---|---|
| Find files by name, description or content | "Find the latest fire safety report in the project files." |
| Read and summarize a file, or extract data from it | "Summarize the contract in 02 · Contracts and list the payment terms." |
| Read a processed 3D/CAD model's element takeoff | "How many doors are in the Revit model?" |
| Create a Word, Excel, Markdown, text or CSV document | "Create a Word protocol for today's site inspection in 03 · Protocols." |
| Create an artifact (interactive page) | "Make a dashboard page of the BoQ costs by category." |
| Create folders, including a whole path | "Create the folders Drawings/Architecture and Drawings/Structure." |
| Rename, move, copy, delete and restore from the Trash | "Move all PDFs from the top level into 01 · Drawings." |
| Share and unshare | "Share 01 · Drawings with Maria for editing." |
| Show and restore versions | "Restore version 2 of the site plan." |
| Read, write and resolve comments | "Reply to the open comments on the BoQ workbook." |
| Quote and start 3D/CAD processing | "How much would processing the models in Drawings cost?" |
| Upload large files and migrate archives | "Upload this file as a new version of A-101.dwg." |
| Give you a link to a file | "Give me a download link for the site plan." |
To point BORO at a specific file, drag the file's row from the file manager list onto the BORO chat. BORO receives it as a reference and reads it on the server; the file is not uploaded again. BORO starts 3D/CAD processing only after you agreed to the quoted credits and time. Files BORO uploads are never processed automatically. Using BORO itself costs credits; see Credits (BORO, file processing).
The same file abilities are available to Claude, ChatGPT and other AI tools that you connect to BuildColab through MCP. Unlike in the BORO panel, AI tools connected through MCP never get an approval card: when they have write access, their changes run immediately. See Connecting Claude, ChatGPT and others (MCP).
Artifacts: interactive pages created by AI
An artifact is a self-contained HTML page that BORO or an AI tool connected through MCP creates in your file manager: a cost dashboard, a report with charts, a calculator, a comparison table. In the file list an artifact appears without its .html extension and carries the badge Artifact (Артефакт). Click it to open it.
- Artifacts are created only by AI. There is no button to create one by hand, and uploading .html files yourself is not allowed. Ask BORO, for example: "Create an artifact with a chart of the monthly payment applications."
- They run isolated. The page runs in a protected frame, separated from your BuildColab account. The notice reads Interactive page created by AI. It runs isolated from your BuildColab account — never enter passwords or personal data into it.
- They cannot leave the page. If an artifact tries to open another address, it is stopped: This page tried to open another address, so it was stopped. Click Reload page (Зареди отново) to start it again.
- They are files like any other. Artifacts have versions, can be shared, moved, copied, downloaded, commented on and deleted. When BORO updates an artifact, it adds a new version. An artifact must keep its .html extension when renamed.
- An artifact without content shows This page is empty.
- The Artifact (Артефакт) badge next to the file name and version; the (i) icon explains what an artifact is.
- The interactive page itself, shown in an isolated frame.
- The panel tabs Comments (Коментари), History (История) and Details (Детайли).
Diagrams with Mermaid
Mermaid is a simple text language for diagrams: flowcharts, sequence diagrams, Gantt charts, organization charts. BuildColab draws Mermaid diagrams in two places:
- Markdown files in the file manager. Put the diagram in a code block that starts with
```mermaidand ends with```. Switch the text editor to Preview (Преглед) to see the drawing. - BORO answers. Ask BORO for a diagram, for example "Draw the approval process for payment applications as a flowchart." BORO checks its diagram before saving it to a file.
If the diagram text has an error, the preview shows This diagram couldn't be displayed. (Диаграмата не може да бъде показана.) and the button Show diagram source (Покажи кода на диаграмата), so you can see and fix the text in Edit mode.
- The Editor mode switch with Edit (Редакция) and Preview (Преглед).
- The rendered Mermaid diagram.
- Save (Запази) stores changes to the Markdown file as a new version.
Common questions
How do I search inside PDFs and Word files?
Type at least 2 characters in Search files… with the scope Everywhere. Where content search is enabled, results that matched inside a document show Found in content. If the results show Searching names and descriptions only — document content search is not available yet., only names and descriptions are searched; add descriptions to important files, or ask BORO to read the files.
Why doesn't the search find a file I know exists?
Search shows only files you can see, only in the current file area (company or this project), and not files in the Trash. Check that the file is shared with you and that you are in the right file area. In This folder scope only the open folder is filtered; switch to Everywhere.
Can BORO change my files without asking?
Not by default. Every change BORO proposes to files, such as creating, moving, sharing, deleting or processing, is shown as an approval card, and nothing happens until you approve it. A tool runs directly only if your company switched it to No approval in BORO Settings → Tools. BORO also works only with the files and permissions you have.
How do I create an artifact?
Ask BORO, or an AI tool connected through MCP, to create one, for example "Create an artifact that shows the BoQ totals by category as a chart and save it in Reports." Artifacts cannot be created by hand.
Is it safe to open an artifact?
Artifacts run isolated from your BuildColab account and cannot open other addresses. Still, they are written by AI: never enter passwords or personal data into one.